30 January 2017 Dear Parents and Friends of the School Welcome back for 2017. We do hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and holiday break and are feeling refreshed as we begin this new school year. We look forward to hearing all about your holiday adventures. We welcome three new students and one new family to our school. Lucia Koen and her parents Kim and Juan. Lucia will be in Room 2. Lucia is the cousin of Ellie Andrews. We welcome you to St Joseph’s and Pleasant Point and hope you enjoy your time with us and living in this beautiful part of the country. We also welcome Lincoln Walker who is in Rm 4 and is the brother of Amelia and Charlotte; and Baxter McCall who is starting his very first day in Rm 2, and is the brother of Fletcher and Dawson.

End of Day Procedures We are streamlining our end of day procedures. All children will line up with their class at the end of the day outside (regardless of whether they are on the bus or not) and will be dismissed from this line. The bus students will then be taken to the buses. We ask ALL parents to wait under the shade structure when picking up your children after school. Teachers and children are finding it difficult to negotiate their way safely out of the school grounds. We thank you for your assistance. A form is attached to this newsletter for you to complete regarding your child’s arrangements for getting home.

Annual Form Completion Please find attached to this newsletter the following forms which we need completed for every student at the start of each year: Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) Consent and Health Form; Cyber Safety Procedure and Agreement; Google Apps for Education Permissions. Could all these forms (including the new Home Arrangements Form) be fully completed and returned to the office by next Tuesday – 7 February 2017 please. Waitangi Day – Monday 6 February Please remember that next Monday is Waitangi Day and is a Public Holiday. There is no school on this day. Absences Just a reminder as we start a new year – if your child is going to be absent from school please ring Claire before 9am, or send a written note with a sibling. Please do not rely on siblings to pass on verbal messages, as these are often forgotten in the morning activities. Please remember to ring each day that your child is absent. Thanks. Office Hours Claire is in the office from 8.30am until 1pm each day. If you need to get a message to your child about a change of bus plan, etc. this needs to be done prior to 12.30pm. Please do not just leave a message on the answer phone, as this may not be cleared until the following morning if no one is in the office. Uniform Please ensure that all your children are wearing the correct uniform. This includes a Royal Blue sunhat for Terms 1 & 4 (available from the Warehouse). Shoes are to be plain black or brown (black or brown sandals are acceptable for Terms 1 & 4). Hair ties are to be blue or black. If you are unsure, please ask in the office. Term 1 Events We have included the Term 1 events calendar again with some new additions Fri 10th Feb House Colour Day/Assembly Sat 11th Feb Welcome Mass 6pm followed by picnic and swimming at pool from 78pm (weather dependent).

Calendar of Events 2017 (Please put these dates in your calendar) First day of school 2017 Mon 30th Jan Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Mon 30th Jan Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Tues 31st Jan Cricket Thurs 2nd Feb Waitangi Day (Holiday) Mon 6th Feb Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Tues 7th Feb House Colour Day Fri 10th Feb Assembly in Rm 1 2.20pm Fri 10th Feb Welcome Mass and Picnic at Pool Sat 11th Feb 6-8pm Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Mon 13th Feb Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Mon 20th Feb Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Tues 21st Feb Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Wed 22nd Feb Swim Cup Thurs 23rd Feb Swimming 1.15-2.15pm or Swim Mon 27th Feb Cup pp Swimming 1.15-2.15pm or Swim Tues 28th Feb Cup pp Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Wed 1st March Ash Wednesday (Start of Lent) Swimming 1.15-2.15pm Wed 2nd March PCT Challenge Mon 13th March Room 4 Camp Tues 14th March – Fri 17th March (Pudding Hill) Rural Swimming Sports Tues 14th March St Patrick’s Day Fri 17th March St Joseph’s Day Mon 20th March Rural Swimming Sports pp Tues 21st March PAL Student Leadership Workshop Wed 22nd March SC Swimming Sports Fri 31st March Aorangi Park Games Have a Go Day Yr 7/8 Palm Sunday Whole School Mass Sat 8th April Easter Liturgy Thurs 13th April Last day Term 1